The versatile Vaughan Marshall-trained Questioning has got better and better as a five-year-old and there looks to be more to come (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Mark van Deventer (Race Coast)
The Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, a 1200m Gr 2 sprint run at Weight for Age, was won in dominant style by Questioning. Richard Fourie had the Querari gelding travelling sweetly just off the early speed cut out by O’Tenikwa, and when he asked his mount for an effort he cut lose to win easing up by 2.5 lengths from the pacesetter.
Outlaw King got up for third in a blanket finish, just ahead of I am Giant and Asiye Phambili. But they were a discouraged four lengths adrift of Vaughan Marshall’s high class 5YO.
Questioning has now won eight of 23 starts. He was foiled by The Real Prince in a Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate thriller 49 days ago, and Marshall trained his charge specifically for this shorter race back down the straight.
Earlier in the season, Questioning delivered a tremendous performance when coming from last to first in the Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. In taking out the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, he yet again showed his class and versatility.
Afterwards, Marshall confirmed that the Diadem, a stiff sprint, has always been Questioning’s Summer mission in a case of a plan coming together perfectly.
Questioning was bred by Mr AN Foster. The mare Wheredowego is a daughter of renowned sire, Captain Al, who has made such an impact on the SA Stud Book.
A modest Fourie played down his jockey role on both Wish List and Questioning, saying they were just much too good for their rivals, and he had little to do in the saddle bar guide them around smoothly.
Princess Of Gaul landed a sustained market move to win the SplashOut Prix du Cap (a Gr 3 for Fillies and Mares) over 1400m. In a race that went slow early, fast late she was fully extended to lumber pace-presser, Stormwatch, just short of the wire.
Market springer, Rocapina, whose price was halved from an opening call of 6/1 rounded out the trifecta.
Princess of Gaul, a consistent daughter of Vercingetorix ex Duke of Marmalade mare, Miss Marmalade, has been campaigned by Dean Kannemeyer in high level fillies features throughout her career.
She won the Western Cape Fillies Championships in November, placed fourth in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas behind Quickstepgal ,and was mugged late by Babelicious in the Olympic Duel Stakes.
A slow run over 1400 suited her ideally as she used her powers of acceleration (22.3 seconds for the final 400m) to charge at a valiant Stormwatch, but it was a close-run thing as Princess of Gaul only snuck in by a head. Craig Zackey was the successful jockey.
She was bred by Mr CP Murphy – this was her fourth win from eight career starts.
Red Spice, under a daring rail-skimming ride by Keagan de Melo, won the Ridgemont Cape of Good Hope Nursery Gr 3 over 1200m.
He was driven through a narrow opening to nail Glen Kotzen’s two entries, 25/1 longshot Roskilde and 14/1, Lady Nancy. Heavily backed Querari Dancer (6’s into 9/4) made belated progress to secure fourth, less than a length off Piet and Elbert Steyn’s victor.
Red Spice is a 2YO son of Erik the Red. The bay colt has now won two in a row, after placing second twice beforehand off Champagne Castle. The 9/2 chance was bred by Terry Andrews and is out of the Right Approach mare, Ikebana.
